The Truth Behind “Independent” Encinitas Candidates Supported by the Far Right
In the coming days, Encinitas voters will make a choice about the future direction of our city. Three candidates—Councilmember Bruce Ehlers for Mayor, Luke Shaffer for District 1, and James O'Hara for District 2—are vying for office under the banner of “independents.” Yet a closer examination of their endorsements and alliances reveals deep-rooted affiliations that warrant serious attention. Behind the veil of independence lies robust support from far-right, Trump-aligned organizations and outspoken MAGA loyalists. This is not the brand of independence Encinitas voters seek; it is a calculated tactic to mask ideologies incompatible with Encinitas’s values.
This tactic—concealing far-right loyalties under a mask of independence—is not new to our community. Voters may recall two-time candidate Julie Thunder, who switched her lifelong Republican registration to “No Party Preference” just before announcing her candidacy. This was no coincidence; it marked the start of a trend where candidates labeled as “independent” were, in reality, Republicans adapting their image to appeal to a Democrat-leaning community. No longer a candidate, Thunder now voices her endorsements of Ehlers, Shaffer, and O’Hara, joining a chorus of right-wing supporters active on social media.
True independence provides balance, fresh ideas, and a commitment to govern free from divisive partisanship. Yet Ehlers, Shaffer, and O’Hara are far from authentic independents. They have secured endorsements from far-right political organizations, including Reform California, an organization led by Trump loyalist Carl DeMaio. DeMaio’s messaging to voters is clear: “I supported Donald Trump in 2016, 2020, and like many Americans, my support for him is even stronger in 2024! The stakes have never been greater—our country must be saved!” His endorsement of Ehlers, Shaffer, and O’Hara in his “Reform CA Voter Guide” demonstrates that they are in alignment with an agenda far removed from the moderate, inclusive values of most Encinitas residents.
Equally concerning is the endorsement by RMNNT Warriors of Liberty, a San Diego-based organization with the mission to “raise up a bold and passionate army to effectively influence politics.” RMNNT, an affiliate of the divisive Awaken Church, promotes Christian Nationalist beliefs and proudly supports Ehlers, Shaffer, and O'Hara. Numerous San Diego County candidates—including some Republicans—have rejected RMNNT’s endorsement due to the group’s divisive messaging, but Ehlers, Shaffer, and O’Hara have made no such effort. RMNNT’s materials reveal its criteria for support, stating that endorsements go only to candidates “most aligned with our values.”
Retired Navy Captain and F/A-18 pilot Fitz Lee, now a candidate in Coronado, had this to say after reviewing RMNNT materials following their endorsement of him: “I am particularly disturbed by their promotional video, which irresponsibly distorts scripture to seemingly justify preparing for armed resistance against those who disagree with their worldview. I unequivocally reject both their endorsement and their organization, and I find their messaging abhorrent, reckless, and dangerous.” If Ehlers, Shaffer, and O'Hara were sincerely committed to independence, they would also have denounced these extremist endorsements.
I am particularly disturbed by their promotional video, which irresponsibly distorts scripture to seemingly justify preparing for armed resistance against those who disagree with their worldview, I unequivocally reject both their endorsement and their organization, and I find their messaging abhorrent, reckless and dangerous.
The influence of far-right groups supporting these candidates does not end there. Ehlers, Shaffer, and O’Hara are also endorsed by Freedom Revival, another Christian right organization active in San Diego. Freedom Revival has previously endorsed candidates in Encinitas, including Jeff Morris, Julie Thunder, and Bruce Ehlers in 2022, making their current support for Ehlers, Shaffer, and O’Hara part of a broader effort to establish far-right influence in Encinitas politics.
These candidates have also received significant backing from Republican-controlled PACs like the Encinitas Citizen Review Panel (ECRP). ECRP has spent thousands promoting Ehlers, Shaffer, and O'Hara, along with two Republican school board candidates known for their anti-transgender stance. ECRP’s leader, Scott Campbell, is a vocal advocate for these city council candidates, further underlining the organized effort to shape Encinitas politics through right wing influence. This election cycle, Campbell and ECRP drew public attention when they attempted to host the city’s first candidate debate—a violation of election code for a PAC. After only ECRP-supported candidates agreed to attend, the event was ultimately canceled in response to the ensuing public outrage.
The case of Luke Shaffer exemplifies the duplicity at play. Previously registered with the far-right American Independent Party (AIP) while claiming to be an independent, Shaffer re-registered only after vigilant residents uncovered the affiliation. Rather than addressing the inconsistency, Shaffer dismissed it as a “smear campaign,” while MAGA supporters directed attacks at the residents who had simply sought the truth. In contrast to his claims of independence, Shaffer’s past AIP affiliation—which includes opposition to gay marriage, gun safety laws, and all forms of abortion—remains unexplained, and continues to cast an ominous shadow over his campaign. Lack of any explanation from Shaffer to allegations of multiple instances of voter fraud only add to concerns from voters.
Ehlers, Shaffer, and O’Hara’s supporters, active on social media, frequently echo MAGA-aligned rhetoric and disparage community members who question the candidates’ claims. Shaffer himself has gone so far as to label his centrist Democratic opponent, Deputy Mayor Allison Blackwell, as a proponent of a “radical political agenda,” urging District 1 voters to “flip the district.” This tactic, casting a centrist Democrat as “radical” and appealing to voters to “flip the district”, only makes sense if supposedly independent candidates are actually ideologues posing as independents to win in a progressive community.
Encinitas voters have a responsibility to look beyond campaign slogans and take a closer look at who truly endorses, funds, and promotes these candidates. Ehlers, Shaffer, and O’Hara could have distanced themselves from extreme affiliations and been transparent with voters, but instead, they have opted to maintain these connections while concealing their ideological leanings behind a facade of independence. Encinitas deserves leadership that values transparency and integrity. We must choose representatives who are candid in their beliefs, forthright in their affiliations, and truly committed to the inclusive values that define our community.